US Lawmakers Press for Binance Exec’s Release with Humanitarian Aid
During the visit of Congress members Chrissy Houlahan and French Hill to Kuje Prison in Nigeria, the situation of detained American Tigran Gambaryan was revealed.
The tax evasion charges were dropped, but Gambaryan remains behind bars on money laundering charges and is in very poor health, having contracted malaria and double pneumonia.
Lawmakers Advocate for the Release of binance Executives
Yesterday, US Congress members Chrissy Houlahan and French Hill met with Tigran Gambaryan at Kuje Prison in Nigeria. Gambaryan, who has been detained for the last three months, complained about his poor health and lost a lot of weight due to neglect of medical attention.
Houlahan and Hill called for Gambaryan’s immediate release for humanitarian purposes due to poor prison conditions and poor health.
In his latest statement, Representative Hill emphasized the importance of taking swift action, focusing on the fact that Gambaryan was fighting financial crimes and cooperating with Nigerian authorities. The lawmakers’ visit came after 18 US Congress members wrote a joint letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging them to intervene to secure Gambaryan’s release.
Expenses and Diplomatic Efforts
Gambaryan was formerly an IRS Special Agent and spent a decade in cyber and financial crimes investigative units. When he was arrested, Binance employed him as a compliance officer.
Although the Nigerian Federal Revenue Service dropped tax evasion charges against him on June 14, he remains in custody on money laundering charges and cannot be released on bail because he is considered to have fled the country.
Many former federal prosecutors and agents joined the call for Gambaryan’s release and wrote to Secretary Blinken to that effect. The ongoing diplomatic efforts are indicative of the current tensions between the United States and Nigeria regarding this case.
Health Problems and Prison Conditions
During Congressmen Houlahan and Hill’s visit to Kuje Prison, they discovered that Gambaryan was suffering from malaria and double pneumonia. His poor health also raised questions about his situation.
Binance maintained its claim and maintained that Gambaryan, who was instrumental in Binance’s compliance and investigation departments, was not a key decision-Maker at the company. The cryptocurrency exchange has not stopped the negotiation process with Nigerian authorities regarding the current legal issues. The next hearing in Gambaryan’s case will be held on July 9, 2024.
Additionally, Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki Gambaryan, criticized the US government for its delayed response and called for more decisive action to secure her husband’s release.
Also read: Nigeria Denies Tax Evasion Charges Against Binance Executives
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